Students and current Representatives

Ph.D. Thesis; Regulation of gene expression in tumors

Supervisors: Giovanni Perini / Giorgio Milazzo

Biographical note:

Graduated with honors in Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of Bologna in October 2021. Research background in transcriptional regulation and epigenetics in cancer biology.

Ph.D. Thesis: Phylogenetic and functional characterization of human and environmental microbial communities: a study of the interactions between microorganisms and habitats

Supervisors: Beatrice Vitali / Carola Parolin

Biographical note:

Feb 2021: Master's Degree with Honours in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, University of Bologna, with a master thesis titled ‘Vaginal lactobacilli in planktonic and biofilm form, an anti-Candida activity study.’

Interested in human microbiota with a focus on the beneficial interactions with hosts. 

Ph.D. Thesis: Study of the interaction between PP2A and Integrator and its regulation during transcription; structural and functional characterization of INTS6.

Supervisors: Giovanni Perini / Alessandro Gardini

Biographical note:

Graduated (Laurea degree) with honors in Biotechnology at the University of Bologna in July 2018 (title of the thesis: "Strategies and protocols for the design by Ampliseq of a complete panel for the study of somatic mutations in the feline species using NGS technologies").

Graduated (Master Science) with honors in Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of Bologna in March 2021 (title of the thesis: "Molecular-genetic analysis of the role played by abnormal wing discs, a homolog of the NME1-2 metastasis suppressor genes, in the development of Drosophila melanogaster").

He is currently enrolled in the UniBo – Wistar Institute Ph.D. Exchange Program, and he is working in the Gardini Lab in Philadelphia (PA), USA. He is studying the interaction between PP2A and the Integrator complex as well as the regulation of this interaction during transcription. He is also characterizing the structure and functions of INTS6, a subunit of Integrator.

Ph.D. Thesis: Tumor metastasis and microenvironment: models and mechanisms

Supervisors: Giovanni Perini / Alessandro Gardini

Ph.D. Thesis: Mechanisms of genomic instability in tumors

Supervisors: Giovanni Capranico / Marco Russo

Biographical note: Graduated with honors in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (LM-09), in March 2021, at the University of Bologna, with a master's thesis in "Functional characterization of innate immune genes in human lung cancers through genomic data analyses."

Ph.D. Thesis: Regulation of gene expression in tumors

Supervisors: Giovanni Perini / Giorgio Milazzo

Biographical note:

He graduated with a degree in Biology at the University of Padova, with a specialization in Microbiology and Virology at the University of Brescia Postgraduate School. He is an upper-secondary-school tenured teacher. Interested in the regulation of gene expression in cancer.

Ph.D. Thesis: Genetic factors in the pathogenesis of autism

Supervisors: Elena Maestrini / Elena Bacchelli

Biographical note:

Ph.D. Thesis: Physiological and molecular characterization of the cytochrome b561 protein family in Arabidopsis thaliana: the role of redox homeostasis in the transitions between developmental stages of Arabidopsis.

Supervisors: Francesca Sparla / Paolo Trost

Biographical note:

• October 2018: graduated with honors in Biological Sciences (Bachelor's Degree) at the University of Bologna.
• March 2021: graduated with honors in Molecular and Cellular Biology (Master's Degree) at the University of Bologna with a thesis in molecular plant physiology ("Phenotypic characterization of CYB561-A and SDR2 mutant Arabidopsis thaliana plants").
• November 2021: started the Ph.D. program at the Laboratory of Molecular Plant Physiology at the University of Bologna.

Ph.D. Thesis: Use of bioenergetically active membranes for the study of environmental friendly solvents

Supervisor:  Francesco Francia, co-supervisor: Anna Maria Ghelli

Biographical note:

March 2021: Graduation in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Bologna with a thesis on the redox regulation of the cytosolic GAPDH of A. thaliana and its aggregation primed by long-lasting glutathionylation.

Ph.D. Thesis: Molecular, genomic and functional study of the interaction between microorganisms and biochar for the industrial sustainability

Supervisor: Martina Cappelletti

Ph.D. Thesis: Valorization of wastewater for the production of natural products through the use of microalgae and cyanobacterial systems

Supervisor:  Francesca Sparla; co-supervisor: Paolo Trost

Biographical note:

Graduated with honors in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Bologna with a thesis on heterologous expression in the yeast Kluyveromyces lactis of recombinant proteins with degradative action on lignocellulosic biomass.

Currently, her Ph.D. project focuses on the growth of photosynthetic microorganisms (algae and cyanobacterial) on industrial dairy waste for the production of high-value biomass. 

Ph.D. Thesis: Natural and modified bacteriophages in the sustainable control of porcine post-weaning diarrhea

Supervisor: Alberto Danielli; co-supervisor: Paolo Trevisi

Ph.D. Thesis: Research on how high blood acetate levels that occur following alcohol consumption alter tumor metabolism, immune cell function, inflammation and steatosis using transgenic mouse models

Supervisors: Giovanni Perini / Zachary T. Schug 

Biographical note:

Obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from the University of Bologna in October 2019 (110/110 with honors) with a thesis titled (translated from Italian): “Structural and functional characterization of the phosphoribulokinase of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mutated by deletion of the Clamp-loop structural domain” (Supervisor: Prof. Francesca Sparla – University of Bologna). Obtained his Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology from the University of Bologna in March 2022 (110/110 with honors) with a thesis titled: “Three-dimensional imaging of mitochondrial reticulum morphology in muscle regeneration by confocal super-resolution microscopy” (Supervisors: Prof. Gyorgy Szabadkai – University College London; Prof. Anna Maria Porcelli – University of Bologna). Currently studying, as a UNIBO Ph.D. candidate, the role of acetate metabolism in cell-mediated immune responses against cancer by applying metabolomic approaches to in vivo and in vitro models under the supervision of Dr. Zachary T. Schug at The Wistar Institute (Philadelphia, PA).

Ph.D. Thesis: Characterization of transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation in pathogenic bacteria.

Supervisors: Davide Roncarati / Vincenzo Scarlato

Biographical note:

Graduated with honors in Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of Bologna with a master’s thesis titled “Design and validation of a reporter system for in vivo characterization of the essential regulator HP1043 in Helicobacter pylori and screening of potential inhibitors”.

Ph.D. Thesis: Waste-to-material recycling aimed at second-generation carbon-based materials: microbial functionalization and bioremediation applications

Supervisor: Martina Cappelletti

Biographical note:

Graduated with honors in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Bologna with a master’s thesis on stress response and resistance mechanisms to metals in the bacterial strain Rhodococcus aetherivorans BCP1.

Ph.D. Thesis: Study of the initial stages of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae and Klebsiella pneumoniae infections as a target for the development of an innovative antimicrobial therapy.

Supervisor: Marco Rinaldo Oggioni

Biographical note:

2019: Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology at the University of Bologna.

2022: Master’s degree in Industrial and Molecular Biotechnology at the University of Bologna with a thesis entitled: Study of the hypothetical role of the endo-α-N-1,3-acetylgalactosaminidase of Streptococcus pneumoniae in cellular auto-aggregation and biofilm formation.

After graduation, I was a research collaborator studying bacteria-macrophage interactions in RAW 264.7 and THP-1 cell lines, performing macrophage infection and phagocytosis experiments. The bacteria under study were Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Staphylococcus epidermidis.

Since November 2022, I have been holding a position as a Ph.D. student in Cellular and Molecular Biology at the Pharmacy and Biotechnology Department of the University of Bologna.

Ph.D. Thesis: Study of the ChAHP complex role in the R-loops resolution

Supervisors: Giovanni Perini / Kavitha Sarma 

Biographical note:

Graduated with honors in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Bologna. Title of the thesis: “Study of a putative functional axis MYCN-E2F3a-KAT2A in Neuroblastoma cell lines.”

Ph.D. Thesis: Biochemical mechanisms and cellular consequences of mitochondrial cation flux: from bioenergetics to metabolic rewiring.

Supervisor: Anna Maria Porcelli, Co-supervisor: Anna Maria Ghelli

Biographical note:

I got my bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences in 2019 at the University of Bologna, where I continued my studies and got a master's degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology in 2022. Currently working as a Ph.D. student on cancer metabolism with a focus on mitochondria.

Ph.D. Thesis: Unscheduled activation of replication origins and replicative stress as key points of micronuclei formation.

Supervisor: Giovanni Capranico;  Co-supervisor: Jessica Marinello

Biographical note:

Graduated with honors in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Bologna in March 2022 with a master’s thesis in Molecular Mechanisms of Diseases. 

Ph.D. Thesis: Nanobiotechnological engineering of the M13 phage for targeted photosonodynamic cancer therapy

Supervisors: Alberto Danielli, Paolo Emidio Costantini

Biographical note: Bachelor Thesis in Plant Biotechnology (“Characterization of the ftsZ genes in Sphagnum papillosum”) in 2020, Master Thesis in Genetics and experimental Bioinformatics (“Regulation of pSYSA copy number through a small protein and a noncoding RNA”) in 2022 at Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Germany

Ph.D. Thesis: Study of natural insect antagonists and associated symbionts aimed at the identification of bioinsecticides

Supervisor: Valeria Cavaliere

Biographical note:  My name is Mattia Longanesi, and I’m a Ph.D. student at the Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology of the University of Bologna. My research interests focus on the development of biological bioinsecticides in order to preserve the environmental ecosystem from chemical insecticides. Due to my participation in the associative life of various scout groups for many years, I really like being in a group and making new connections. Thanks to these experiences, I like working in a research team where each member is focused on achieving the final result. Lastly, I love traveling to improve my intuitive abilities and social experiences.

Ph.D. Thesis: Development of phage nanoparticles for non-invasive neuronal photostimulation

Supervisors: Alberto Danielli / Valentina Castagnola

Biographical note:

Graduated in Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology at the University of Bologna in December 2021 with a joint thesis with the Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology (NSYN) of the Italian Institute of Technology in Genova.The dissertation thesis aimed at obtaining a phage-based nanoplatform for specific targeting of neuronal populations. These themes were then further investigated during a one-year fellowship at NSYN and will be carried on during the Ph.D. period.

Ph.D. Thesis: Development of nutraceuticals enriched in bioactive molecules from waste and by-products of the food industry through biotechnological processes based on strains of lactic bacteria and yeast.
Supervisor(s): Beatrice Vitali/Francesca Patrignani
Biographical note: Graduated in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Bologna with a thesis on calcium homeostasis in the central nervous system and its role in Alzheimer’s disease and Fabry’s disease. Currently, her Ph.D. project focuses on the development of GABA produced by lactic acid bacteria and the functional activity of this product on the gut and central nervous systems.

Ph.D. Thesis: Inhibition of innate immunity-related gene expression via autophagy induction after G4 binder treatments in cancer cells

Supervisor(s): Giovanni Capranico Co-Supervisor: Giulia Miglietta

Biographical note: Graduate cum laude in Cellular and Molecular Biology in March 2022, at the University of Bologna, with a master's thesis concerning the “Activation of Interferon–dependent Pathways by G4 Binders in Murine Fibrosarcoma Cells”.

Ph.D. Thesis: CAR T engineering for a functional HIV cure

Supervisors: Giovanni Perini / Daniel Claiborne

Biographical note: In October 2022, I graduated with honors in Molecular and Cell biology at the University of Bologna with a thesis on Molecular Genetics titled “MYCN overcomes RB1 function in high-risk Neuroblastoma”. In November 2022 joined the Wistar Institute of Philadelphia as a UniBO Ph.D. exchange student to work in Daniel Claiborne’s lab. My current research focuses on optimizing CAR T cell therapies for a functional HIV cure. Besides, through utilizing humanized mice as a model, I am working to uncover the mechanisms of CAR T dysfunctional phenotypes in chronic diseases, such as exhaustion.

Ph.D. Thesis: Generation and characterization of 3D bioprinted human endometrial cancer models

Supervisor: Sabrina Angelini

Co-Supervisors: Giovanni Capranico, Gloria Ravegnini

Biographical note:

Graduated with honours in Health Biology at the University of Bologna, in October 2022, with a thesis on the analysis of circulating microRNAs as potential predictive biomarkers in ovarian cancer.

Ph.D. Thesis: Development and functional characterization of a Drosophila genetic model to study Mitochondrial DNA Depletion Syndromes (MDDS).

Supervisors: Roberto Bernardoni / Giovanni Perini

Biographical note: Graduated with honors in Cellular and Molecular Biology at the University of Lecce in October 2022 with a Master's Thesis entitled “Evaluation of the expression of transposable elements in the nervous tissue of Drosophila melanogaster at various developmental stages”. 

Ph.D. Thesis: Development of a DNAzyme microglia immunomodulator toward exosomal miRNA in in vitro model

Supervisors: Giampaolo Zuccheri / Barbara Monti

Biographical note: I graduated in biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology at the University of Namur in Belgium with a master's thesis on the characterization of mitochondrial dynamics in lung cancer cells after X-rays exposure. 

Ph.D. Thesis: Engineering of bacterial Outer Membrane Vesicles (OMVs) as specific RNA drug delivery vehicles in osteosarcoma therapy

Supervisors: Davide Roncarati/Andrea Vannini

Biographical note: In December 2022, I graduated with honors in Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of Bologna. My master's thesis was titled “Re-engineering of phage M13 for biosensing: a phage-mediated microprocessor based on fluorescence complementation”.

Ph.D. Thesis: Development of a multidirectional approach for drug repurposing

Supervisors: Francesco Musiani / Anna Maria Ghelli

Biographical note: Claudio Pino graduated in 2021 in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology at the University of Bologna with a thesis entitled "Study of the bifidogenic activity of Lactobacillus spp. isolated from pregnant women".  After graduation, he took part in a 6-month post-graduate internship in Medical Genetics at the Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital to identify new anticancer therapies. Then, he moved to Prof. Musiani's laboratory to study the computational analysis method in the same field. Eventually, he started a Ph.D. programme in Cellular and Molecular Biology with a project focused on developing a multidirectional approach for drug repurposing using HPC solvers.

Ph.D. Thesis: Role of the PRR12 factor in Neurodevelopmental Visual Disorders (NDVDs).

Supervisors: Giovanni Perini, co-supervisor:  Barbara Monti

Biographical note: Graduated with honors in Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of Bologna in October 2022 with a thesis on the characterization of the CoREST complexes biological and transcriptional function in neuroblastoma.

Ph.D. Thesis: Investigating EBV latent infection-driven CpG Island Methylation Phenotype in epithelial cancers

Supervisors: Giovanni Perini / Paul Lieberman

Biographical note:

I graduated with honors in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Bologna in March 2022, with a thesis titled (translated from Italian): 'Use of C2C12 Murine Myoblasts and Zebrafish Embryos as Models to Study the Pathogenetic Role of TNPO3 Protein in the Insurgence of Human LGMD D2 Disease' (Supervisor: Prof. Flavia Frabetti – University of Bologna).

During 2022 and 2023, I continued working on my master's degree project as a research fellow at the University of Bologna under the supervision of Prof. Giovanna Cenacchi and Prof. Flavia Frabetti, developing a strong interest in gene regulation and biomedical research.

In November 2023, I joined the Paul M. Lieberman lab at the Wistar Institute as a Unibo Ph.D. exchange student, where I am focusing on the role of EBV latent infection in driving the CIMP phenotype in cancers.

Ph.D. Thesis:  Characterization of the C-terminal region of NDRG1, a protein involved in cancer development

Supervisors: Barbara Zambelli / Stefano Ciurli

Ph.D. Thesis:  Definition of novel therapeutic approaches in high-risk Neuroblastoma tumors

Supervisors: Giovanni Perini / Francesco Chemello

Biographical note:  I graduated with honors in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Bologna in December 2021. Research background in transcriptional regulation and epigenetics of cancer biology with a focus on protein-protein interaction analysis.

Ph.D. Thesis: Targeting epigenetic control of clock genes in Neural Stem Cells in Alzheimer’s Disease

Supervisors: Barbara Monti / Kamil Musilek

PhD Thesis: Tailored DNA/RNA Suits for Immunogens

Supervisors: Giovanni Perini  / Amelia Escolano

Biographical Note:

I completed my Bachelor's in Microbiology from Government College University Faisalabad, Pakistan. Following that, I pursued my Master's degree in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at the University of Bologna, Italy. During my Master's thesis research in Professor Giovanni Perini's lab, I focused on Orthogonal M13 Phage-based Photodynamic Therapy of Neuroblastoma, which ignited my passion for innovative medical research. Currently, I am immersed in my doctoral studies at The Wistar Institute (USA), where I am engaged in cutting-edge research on utilizing aptamers for the immunomodulation of HIV epitopes under the supervision of Dr. Amelia Escolano. My research aims to produce broadly neutralizing antibodies (BnAbs), offering a promising avenue for enhancing immunity against HIV.

Ph.D. Thesis: Identification and functional characterization of extracellular vesicles involved in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's Disease: focus on miRNAs as inflammatory modulators and biomarkers

Supervisors: Francesca Massenzio / Barbara Monti

Brief biographical note:  Master's Degree in Medical Biotechnology, University of Bologna. Bachelor's Degree in Biotechnology, University of Modena

Ph.D. Thesis:  Study of neuronal molecular alterations in Angelman syndrome

Supervisors: Barbara Monti / Cristina Alberini

Biographical note:  Cecilia is currently a Ph.D. student at the FaBit Department of the University of Bologna. Her research focuses on the study of Angelman Syndrome, which is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder. Prior to her current endeavors, Cecilia graduated in Biology in December 2020. Subsequently, she pursued a Master's degree in Cell and Molecular Biology, successfully completing her studies in 2023 at the University of Bologna.

Supervisors: Andrea Vannini / Davide Roncarati

Biographical note:  

May 2020: Bachelor’s in biological science at the University of Catania, graduated with honors. Thesis in Clinal Microbiology (Title: Phenotypical and molecular characterization of clinical samples of Staphylococcus spp. : a proposal for External Quality Assessment (EQA) by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID))

March 2023: graduated with honors in Molecular and Cellular Biology MSc at the University of Bologna. Master thesis in molecular microbiology (Title: Characterization of hypothetical thermosensors: 5'UTR analysis of site-specific bacterial recombinations).

Ph.D. project:  The microbiology and the biotechnology potential of subterranean ecosystems as a resource of biodiversity and subterranean waters to protect

Supervisors: Martina Cappelletti / Francesco Sauro

Biographical note: March 2022: graduated with honors in Molecular and Cellular Biology MSc at the University of Bologna. Master thesis in environmental microbiology (Title: Phenotypic and genotypic analysis of microorganisms isolated from caves characterized by peculiar enzymatic and antimicrobial activities)

Ph.D. Thesis: Role of TERRA in Telomere Maintenance and Telomere Stress Response

Supervisors: Giovanni Perini / Paul Lieberman 

Biographical note:  I obtained a M.Sc. degree (double degree) at the University of Rome “La Sapienza” in 2022.

While I was an undergraduate, during my defense preparation, I was a visiting fellowship at the University de Paris for a period of 1-year and, here, under the supervision of Dr. Iléana Antony Debré, I got my Master II in Genetics. During my scholarship at Gustave Roussy Institute, I have been actively involved in several research studies, which allowed me to acquire broad expertise in several areas of Hematology, specifically in the mechanisms that regulate no-solid tumors, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myeloproliferative disease.

I am currently enrolled in the UniBo – Wistar Institute Ph.D. Exchange Program, under the supervision of Dr. Paul Lieberman. My project delves deep into the intricate interactions between TERRA and human telomeres, holding promise for uncovering crucial mechanisms underlying genetic instability in cancer and related genetic instability syndromes.

 Ph.D. Thesis: The impact of the epigenetic modifier PADI4 on p53 function

Supervisors:  Giovanni Perini / Maureen Murphy

Biographical note: Born in Perugia on December 26, 1998, I got my bachelor's degree in biotechnology in October 2020 at the University of Perugia with a thesis focused on the fluorescence quenching mechanism of methyl pyridine iodide salts complexed with DNA.

In December 2022, I graduated with honors in Molecular and Cellular Biology after a master's degree internship in the "Experimental Oncology Laboratory" of Professor Scotlandi Katia at Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute, where I investigated the onco-suppressive role of Lamin A in Ewing sarcoma.

In November 2023, I joined the Maureen Murphy Lab at the Wistar Institute as a UniBo PhD exchange student. Here, my research focuses on understanding how the citrullination of p53 by PADI4 affects the transcriptional regulation and tumor suppression activity of p53.

Ph.D. Thesis:  Study of a new class of plant enzymes involved in redox homeostasis with still unknown functional plasticity using biologically integrated approaches

Supervisors: Mirko Zaffagnini / Paolo Bernardo Trost

Biographical Note:

March 2020: Bachelor’s degree in Biology at the University of Bologna.

March 2023: Master’s degree with honors in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Bologna with a thesis entitled: Analysis of the functional and regulatory characteristics of a new class of enzymes involved in GSNO homeostasis.

Since November 1st, 2024: Ph.D. student in Cellular and Molecular Biology at the Pharmacy and Biotechnology Department of the University of Bologna with a project focused on studying a new class of plant enzymes involved in redox homeostasis with still unknown functional plasticity using biologically integrated approaches.

Ph.D. Thesis:  Role of splicing factors in the regulation of intronic cleavage and polyadenylation in cancer

Supervisors: Giovanni Perini / Alexander Price / Bin Tian

Biographical note:  I graduated with honors in Health Biology at the University of Bologna in March 2023 with a master's thesis on the biological properties of Ribosome Inactivating Proteins (RIP) from Sambucus nigra. In 2023, I attended the research unit of Medical Genetics as a graduate student at Sant'Orsola Hospital (Bologna), where I acquired computational skills to analyze genetic data. In November 2023, I enrolled in the UNIBO-The Wistar Institute Ph.D. Exchange program in Dr. Bin Tian's lab, where I study the relationship between splicing, alternative polyadenylation, and cancer.

Ph.D. Thesis:  Immune-focusing of hemagglutinin head domain for influenza vaccine

Supervisors: Giovanni Perini  / David Weiner

Biographical Note:

In 2020 I got my bachelor's degree in Biotechnology from the University of Bologna with a thesis on Molecular engineering, "Phage-mediated photosonodynamic therapy for Ewing Sarcoma" (110/110 cum laude).

In 2023, I graduated with honors from A Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology Master's degree from the University of Bologna. Before obtaining my degree, I spent six months in Ceroni's Lab at Imperial College London, where I worked on small activating RNAs, developing a synthetic biology platform to modulate gene expression in mammalian cell lines. Master's thesis title: "Investigation of small activating RNAs as tools for gene expression control" (110/110 cum laude).

I am an Alumni of Collegio Superiore of the University of Bologna. The scholarship-based prestigious Institute for Excellence Studies offers the opportunity to live in a multidisciplinary and intellectually stimulating environment.

Currently, I am a Ph.D. researcher at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia (USA), where I work on Vaccine research and protein engineering to develop a Pan-Influenza vaccine technology under the supervision of Professor Kulp. I am also interested in the business and science intersection, patent law and the process of bringing scientific innovation into companies, to further this expertise I am part of a Life Science Innovation program at Wistar, and I am a member of the Penn Biotech Group at University of Pennsylvania.

Ph.D. Thesis: Epigenetic Mechanisms underlying Epstein-Barr Virus(EBV) Infection to Identify Targetable Viral Functions for Treating EBV-Associated Cancers

Supervisors: Giovanni Perini / Italo Tempera

Biographical Note:

Graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences (2022) and a Master’s in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology from the University of Bologna (2024). The Master’s thesis, conducted at the Microbiology Department of Sant'Orsola Hospital under the supervision of Professor Giorgio Gallinella, focused on developing and optimizing a co-culture model that simulates the bone marrow microenvironment for studying Parvovirus B19 infection dynamics. In November 2024, joined the Italo Tempera Lab at the Wistar Institute as a UniBo PhD exchange student. Current research centers on elucidating the epigenetic mechanisms of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) infection, with the goal of identifying novel viral functions that may serve as therapeutic targets for treating EBV-associated cancers. 

PhD thesis: Brain tumor-driven mechanisms of phenotypic and functional heterogeneity of neutrophils

Supervisors: Giovanni Perini / Filippo Veglia

Biographical Note:

After obtaining my Master’s Degree in Medical Biotechnologies at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, I joined Bruno Calabretta's lab at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, to study the biology of chemotherapy-resistant AML cells.

In November 2024, I joined The Wistar Institute of Philadelphia as a UniBO Ph.D. exchange student in Filippo Veglia’s lab. 

PhD thesis: Characterization of carbon metabolism in plants: how enzyme regulation and catalytic properties influence metabolic flux

Supervisors: Francesca Sparla / Libero Gurrieri

Biographical Note: 

July 2021: I graduated with a degree in Biology from the University of Bologna, presenting a thesis titled "Analysis of the Effect of Potential Drugs on Mitochondrial Dynamics in Cellular Models of Parkinson's Disease," supervised by Prof. Anna Maria Ghelli.

July 2024: I graduated with a degree in Industrial and Molecular Biotechnology from the University of Bologna, with a thesis titled "Purification and Characterization of Human AGT, a Protein Involved in DNA Repair," supervised by Prof. Barbara Zambelli.

PhD thesis: Genomics of autism spectrum disorders

Supervisors: Elena Bacchelli / Elena Maestrini

Biographical Note:

I completed my Bachelor's degree in Genomics at the University of Bologna and my Master’s degree in Molecular and Cell Biology, which I completed with honors in 2024. Both my internships and subsequent research experiences focused on analyzing genomic data through computational biology techniques.

PhD thesis: Using Viral Functions to control intracellular trafficking

Supervisors: Renato Brandimarti / Laura menotti / Dario De Biase

Biographical Note:

Bachelor Thesis in Molecular Genetics “CRISPR-dCas9-KRAB technology application for the role analysis of E2F3 gene in Neuroblastoma” in March 2020.

Master Degree cum laude in Health Biology at Alma Mater Studiorum.

Master Thesis in Molecular and Human Genetics “KMT2C sequence variants analysis in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders” in March 2023.

PhD thesis: Geometric Deep Learning for data fusion: PPG signals and genetic screening for health assessment

Supervisors: Rita Fioresi / Giovanni Perini

Biographical Note:

I graduated in Genomics BSc at University of Bologna, then I pursued my passion for Artificial Intelligence and graduated with honors in Artificial Intelligence Systems MSc at University of Trento.

I've always been interested in the interaction between AI and  biology.

PhD thesis: Multi-omic and functional analyses of biodegradation and bioconversion processes in Rhodococcus bacterial strains

Supervisors: Martina Cappelletti / Davide Roncarati

Biographical Note:

From 2022 to October 2024: He worked as a research fellow at the Molecular Environmental Microbiology Lab in the Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology at the University of Bologna. His research focused on elucidating the role of DNA methylation in bacteria of biotechnological interest, particularly how DNA methylation affects the regulation of metabolic pathways involved in biosynthesis, degradation, and stress response.

In 2021: He holds a Master’s degree in Industrial and Molecular Biotechnology from the University of Bologna, where he presented a thesis titled: "Pseudomonas furukawaii KF707: Metabolic Engineering for the Production of cis,cis-Muconic Acid from Lignin-Derived Substrates."

 His scientific interests are centered on understanding the molecular mechanisms and epigenetic regulation involved in the gene expression of biotechnologically relevant metabolic processes in Rhodococcus strains.

PhD thesis: DNA topoisomerase I and RNA polymerase II backtracking in cancer genome instability

Supervisors: Giovanni Capranico / Jessica Marinello

Biographical Note:

March 2021: Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnologies at the University of Pisa.

April 2024: graduated cum laude in Medical Biotechnologies at the University of Siena, with a Master’s Thesis focused on “Oncolytic peptides as possible inducers of immunogenic cell death in pancreatic cancer”.

In November 2024, I started my PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology under the supervision of Prof. Giovanni Capranico and Prof. Jessica Marinello in their laboratory, focused on the study of cancer genome instability.

PhD thesis: Biochemical and structural characterization of viral proteases and metalloproteases

Supervisors: Barbara Zambelli / Luca Mazzei

Biographical Note:

Sofia Ranieri received a B.Sc. in Biotechnology from the University of Urbino “Carlo Bo” in 2021 with a work focused on the study of cell viability and gene expression in gastric cancer cells under proteotoxic stress conditions and following silencing of UBB and UBC genes under the supervision of Prof. Marzia Bianchi. SR obtained a M.Sc. degree in Industrial and Molecular Biotechnology at the University of Bologna in 2024 with a thesis work that involved the expression, purification and characterization of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease (Mpro) under the supervision of Prof. Stefano Ciurli and Dr. Luca Mazzei. From March to October 2024, she had worked as a research fellow at the Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry with Prof. Stefano Ciurli's research team, focusing on the application of calorimetric techniques to determine the mechanisms of action of SARS-CoV-2 M^pro inhibitors.

Eventually, she has started a Ph.D. programme in Cellular and Molecular Biology under the supervision of Prof. Barbara Zambelli and Dr. Luca Mazzei. Her research project is on the biochemical and structural characterization of viral proteases and metalloproteases, attractive targets for the development of new drugs against major global diseases.

PhD thesis: Identification and characterization via SELEX of RNA aptamers that interact and inhibit the in vivo function of MYCN oncoprotein 

Supervisors: Giovanni Perini / Francesco Chemello

Biographical Note: I graduated in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at the University of Bologna in February 2022. After working in Vienna as a Technical Assistant at CeMM (Center for Molecular Medicine) for two years, I returned to Bologna to start my PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology. My research project is based on the recently discovered RNA-binding function of MYCN and aims to identify RNA aptamers that interact with and inhibit the in vivo function of MYCN oncoprotein.

PhD thesis: Preservation of the structure/function of dehydrated proteins. Analysis of the protective mechanisms exerted by the external matrix

Supervisors: Francesco Francia / Anna Maria Ghelli

Biographical Note:

Graduated in Biology with expertise in cellular and molecular physiology and in vitro diagnostics, and experience in both academic and business sectors, upper-secondary-school tenured teacher.

PhD thesis: Identification of novel therapeutic targets to prevent growth and metastasis in acral melanoma

Supervisors: Giovanni Perini / Jessie Villanueva

Biographical Note:

October 2021: graduated with honors with a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Bologna with a thesis entitled “Caratterizzazione di femmine adulte di Anguilla anguilla di cinque aree vallive del Delta del Po in relazione alla loro età”.

March 2024: graduated with honors with a Master’s degree in Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of Bologna with a thesis entitled “miR-1290 and miR-320c: Potential Circulating Biomarkers for Neuroendocrine Carcinomas”, following an internship conducted at the Preclinic and Osteoncology unit of Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST), Meldola.

Since November 2024: Ph.D. student in Cellular and Molecular Biology in the Villanueva Lab at The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia.

PhD thesis: Effect of Opioid Use on Immune Activation and HIV Persistence on ART

Supervisors: Giovanni Perini / Luis Montaner

Biographical Note:

I am from Novosibirsk, Siberia. I am a graduate of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at the University of Bologna with a thesis in neuropharmacology “Dissecting The Molecular Effects Of Therapeutic Concentrations Of Morphine And Pregabalin In Different Neuronal Cell Models To Implement Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Platform”. Previously, I acquired a Bachelor's Degree in the Department of Natural Sciences, with a Major in Biology, a Minor in Physiology, and a thesis in Neurosciences “Chemogenetic activation of glutamatergic neurons in the dorsal hippocampus increases neurotrophin expression and attenuates depressive-like behavior in adolescent rats”. I am an alumnus of the Specialized Educational Scientific Center. My main scientific interests are neurosciences, immunology, and pharmacology.

My project title is in the process of being finalized but I will probably work with the “Effect of Opioid Use on Immune Activation and HIV Persistence on ART”